Subregions

Union County

KEY INFORMATION LINKS

County Profile |  County Municipalities |  County Website |  Planning Agency

Union County is highlighted in dark blue.

NJTPA Representative:
Bette Jane Kowalski Bette Jane Kowalski
County Commissioner
Union County

NJTPA Regional Transportation Advisory Committee Representative

Union County, with a population of 536,499, is a highly urban and densely populated county that is also home to nature preserves and quiet suburbs. Some of the county's core strengths include its centralized location and outstanding transportation infrastructure, including the New Jersey Turnpike, Garden State Parkway, extensive freight and passenger rail service, and the Port of Elizabeth. The Goethals Bridge serves as New Jersey's gateway to Staten Island and markets beyond.

Elizabeth, the county seat, was established in the colonial era and is situated on the Arthur Kill. The county's assets also include a strong technological base and a diverse population. Corporate headquarters for Merck and Co., Schering-Plough, and Wakefern Food Corp. are situated here. The diverse industrial and manufacturing base includes retail, pharmaceuticals, petroleum and telecommunications. The county also is home to the Jersey Gardens Mall in Elizabeth, an example of successful brownfields redevelopment.